Sheet-manipulating mechanism for printing-presses.



PATBNTED APR. 24, 1906 L. E. MORRISON. SHEET MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

AfPLICATION FILED SBPT29.1904.

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PATENTED APR. 24. 1906.

L. E. MORRISON. SHEET MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1904.

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Jud wozueq s 7 W W No. 818,974. PATENTED APR. 24. 1906 L. B. MORRISON. SHEET MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRBSSES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 29.1904.

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PATENTBD APR. 24, 1906. L. E. MORRISON.

G MECHANISM FOR PRIN APPLICATION FILED SEPT 29.1904

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SHEET MANIPULATIN 4 sums-sum" 4.

Z I. M66250 35% Inks/(Gibb 4 UNITE STATES PATENT UFFTCE.

LEWIS E. MORRISON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHEET-MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PRlNTlNG-PRESSE S.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed September 29, 1904. Serial No. 226.507-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be'it known that I, Lnwrs E. MORRISON, a citizen of the United States, residin at Philadelphia, in the county of Philade phia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Sheet-Manipulating Mechanism- To these ends this invention consists of the sheet-manipulating mechanisms and of the combinations of parts therewith, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying four sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of sufficient parts of a j obrinting press to illustrate the application this invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly in section, of the registering-table and arts coo erating therewith. Fig. 3 is a detai view of t e front registeringuide and connections for operating the same. Fig. 4 is a fragmenta plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the front registering-guide and one of its supports. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, of the grippers and connections for operating the same to take sheets from the registering-table and present them in front of the platen. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the grippers. Fig. 8 is a front view of the parts shown in F ig. 7. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the registering-table. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail viewo'f the clamping-lingers and connections for operating the same to hold a sheet upon the platen durin the printing operation. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the clampingfingers. Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 13 13 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a side view, partly in section, of the means for delivering the sheets printed side up. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary front view of the arts shown in Fig. 14, and Fig. 16 is a detai plan view of the cams for opening the delivery-gri pers.

For many classes of printing, the est and most economical results are now obtained from bed-and-platen job-printing presses.

In operating printing-presses of this type it is the usual practice to feed the presses by hand. A sheet-manipulating mechanism constructed according to this invention is designed to be used in connection with a bed-and-platen job-printing press and to render the press automatic in operation.

Referrin to the accompanying drawings for a detai description of an apparatus embodying this'invention, F designates one of the side frames of a bed-and-platen rintin press. Mounted between the side ames is the platen P. Cooperating with the platen P is the type-bed B, carried by the swinging frame 20.

Power for operating the press is applied to a' shaft carrying a small pinion 21, which meshes with and drives the large gear 22 upon the main shaft 19. The gear 22 is rovided with a crank-pin connected by a ink 230 to o erate the swiugirn frame 20, which carries t e type-bed B. These parts may be of the ordinary or usual constructions, except that in practice the laten is ivotally mounted so that it can e turne up and held, by means to be hereinafter described, in

osition so that free access may be had to the face of the laten while thepress is being made read or printing any particular form.

Mounte in the upper part of the framework of'the press is an autoinatic'sheet-feeding attachment 23 for supplying the sheets to be printed. This sheet-feeding attachment may be of ordinary or a proved construction an need not be herein escribed at length.

From the sheet-feeding attachment "23 the successive sheets are delivered onto a registering-table 24. Asshown most clearly in Fig. 2, the registering-table 24 is removably' means of an arm WhlOll is connected by a ga ab sheet-guides 27, the rearwardly-extending sheet-guides 28, and the side guides 29. At their rear ends the side guides 29 are provided with hooks 30, which engage a cross-bar of theframework. By means of this construction it will be seen that the registering-table may be removed and taken out of the way when the press is being adjusted or prepared for operation.

Movably mounted upon the registering-table 24 is a cross-rod having fingers 31 for engagingthe rear edges of the sheets. As shown most clearly in Fig. 9,.the fingers 31 are carried by pieces which are adjustable upon the cross-rod. Connections for moving the ngers 31 to carry a sheet of paper into regis tered osition on the registering-table are most c early illustrated in Fig. 1. As shown in this figure, 32 designates a gear which meshes with and is driven from the main gear 22. Turning with the gear 32 is apinion 33, which mesheswith and drives a gear 34. The gear 34 is provided with a crank-pin which is connected by a pitman 35 to an arm extending from the rock-shaft 36. The rockshaft 36 supports and operates the deliverygr'i'ppers, as hereinafter described, and also operate the sheet-registering mechanism by link 37- to the swinging arms 38, which extend down from a rock-shaft journaled in brackets on the framework. At their lower ends the swinging arms 38.are connected by links 39 to operate 'the cross-rod which carries the fingers'31. The link 37, as shown in Figs. 1 an 2, is made intwo parts, havin a pin-andslot connection which normally s orten's the link 37 by means of a spring, but which will permit the required lost motion for handling sheets of difierent lengths. a I,

As the sheets are moved forward over the registering-table they are brought into engem'ent with registeriniblocks 40, adjusty mounted on a crossar 41. The crossbar '41 is connected at its erids.to the swinging'links 42. Each. of the swinging links 42 is ivoted in a supporting-piece 43, which is admstable upon the framework ofithe press. The swinging links 42 are provided with stops 44 for supporting the registering-blocks in operative position, and one of the swinging pieces 42 is provided with a roller 42, which is engaged by one arm of a bell-crank lever 45. The other arm of the bell-crank lever 45 is rovided with a roller engaging an adjustable cam-piece 46.. The connections for op erating the adjustable cam-piece 46 are most clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, and 6.' As shown in these figures, the swinging frame 20, which carries the type-bed B, is connected by links 48 to arms extending from a rock- Als'o extending from the rockshaft 49 are arms which are connected by a spring upon a rod 50 to operate the grippernormally closed by levers 52, which are pivoted on the trunnions 47 of the platen. The adjustable cam-piece 46 is fastened to one of the gripper-levers 52. By means of these connections when the type-bed moves up toward the platen on its rinting stroke the registering-blocks will be owered into operative position for registermg the succeeding sheet which is to be thereafter printed.

After a sheet has been properly positioned upon the registering-table it is carried down in front of the platen by means of swinging grippers. These grippers and the connections for operating the same are most clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive. As shown in these figures, this gripper mechanism comprises the gripper-bar 51, carried by arms which are adjustably connected to gripper-levers 52, before referred to; ating gripper-bar 53 is carried by pivoted arms which can be swung or turned when the grippers are to be opened. The grippers are a spring 54. Pivoted on each of the supporting-arms of the movable gripper-bar is a roller. 55, which run upon sectors or curved tracks 56. When the curved tracks 56 are moved forward, will be opened, as shown in Fig. 7, the curved tracks 56 are moved and when lowed to close. The connections for operat: ing the tracks 56 comprise arms extending up A. cooperthe grippers; ,7

back, as illustrated in Fig. 6,the grippers will be alfrom the rock-shaft 96 and an armextending from the rock-shaft 96 and. carrying a roller engaging a cam 570 upon will be swun platen P an proper times to take a to be rinted.

To old the sheet in place 11 on the platen, I employ presser fingers, w 'ch are' most clearly illustrated in Figs. 11 to As shown in these figures, 560 designates a cross-rod, and extending up from the crossrod are arms connected to a rock-shaft 57. Extending rearwardly from the cross-rod 560 are links 58, which are connected to arms ex-- tending down from a rock-shaft 59. Fastened rigidly on the cross-rod 560 are spring finger 61, havmeans of this construction the grippers f the tering-table and presentthe same in position 13, inclus1ve.

the main shaft 19.

5'60.between the spring pressersi ma (.3

positioning of the sheet upon the platen that is to say, the fingers are moved toward and away from the platen, so as to be kept substantially parallel with the face thereof at all times, while the middle finger 61 has, in effect, a tipping or oscillating motion.

The means for delivering printed sheets are most clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 and in Figs. 14 to 16, inclusive. As shown in these figures, the rock-shaft 36 is provided with downwardly-extending arms 66, carrying the stationary gripper-jaws 67. Pivcted in the arms 66 is a rock-shaft carrying movable Movably mounted on one gripper jaws 68. of the arms 66 is a longitudinally-movable operatin -rod 69. At its lower end the operating-ro 69 is provided with an inclined or beveled end 69 for engaging an arm 69*, extending from the rock-shaft which carries the movable gripper-jaws 68. At its upper end the operating-rod 66 has a pin or projection 66 engaging the cam-pieces 70 and 71, carried by a bracket secured to the framework. The delivery grippers are normally held closed by a spring 72, as shown, and the campieces 70 and 71 serve to open the grippers. After the sheet has been printed and is about to be. released by the gri ping-fingers 60, holding it to the platen, t e delivery-grippers approach the bottom of the sheet. The

are normally held closed durin the approach until just before reaching the sheet, when the top of opcrating-rodr69 engages the cam 71, opening the jaws by depressing the operating-rod 69, causing its beveled end 69 to engage the arm 69 operating the rock-shaft upon which is mounted the fingers 68. At this time the gripping-fingers 60 release their pressure upon the sheet, allowing it to fall into the open jaws of the delivery-grippers. Then the delivery-grippers commence their delivery'to the delivery-table. After starting toward the delivery-table the top of the operating-rod 69 is released from the cam 71 thereby closing the delivery-grippers upon the bottom of the sheet. This condition exists until the sheet-has reached a position to be dropped upon the table, when the top of the operating-rod 69 engages the cam 70, opening the fingers, allowing the sheet to drop upon the table.

In order that free access may be had to the face of the platen P without interfering with the shcct-manipulating mechanisms, I prefer to pivot the platen upon the trunnions 47, as shown in Fig. 5. By means of this construction the platen can bc swung or turned up, and, if desired, it may be supported in its turned-up position by means of a hook 73, which engages a lug or catch on the platenl'ramo.

When the platen is in its thrown-up position and the rcgisteringtiiblc 24 removed, free access may be had to the face of the registering'table.

platen, so that the press may be made ready for printing from any desired form.

In some cases, where very wide sheets are to be printed, it is desirable that the registering-table should be provided with a center guide, and in Fig. 9 I have shown the registeringtable provided with a center guide M, although it is to be understood that this guide is not necessarily required.

Considering now the operation of the printing-press as a whole, it will be seen that I have provided an apparatus which is entirely automatic in operation that is to say, as the successive sheets are fed to the press they will be automatically registered upon the They will be taken from the registering-table, carried down in front of the platen, and clamped thereon during printing operation, and after being printed the sheets will be delivered printed side up upon a delivery-table T.

The delivery-table T may be provided with any of the usual joggers for truing up the pile of printed sheets delivered on the deliverytable T, which devices need not be herein shown or described.

I am aware that numerous changes may be made in practicing my invention by those who are skilled in the art and that while my sheet-manipulating mechanism has been-particularl dlesigned for use in connection with bed-and-p aten job-printing presses certain features thereof can be used in diilerent locations and in difierent combinations. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the construction 1 have herein shown and described:

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a printing-press, the combination of sheet-registering mechanism, means for presenting the registering sheets in position to be painted, and clamping-fingers for holding the s mats in place while being printed upon, and means for smoothing the sheets upon the platen.

2l In a printing-press, the combination of registering devices, means for presenting the registered sheets in position to be printed. means for smoothing the sheets upon the platen, clamping fingers for holding the sheets while being printed upon, and a sheetdelivering device.

3. In a bed-and-platen printing-press. the combination of means for presenting the sheets in front of the platen in position to be printed, means for smoothing the sheets upon the platen, clamping-lingers for holding the sheets while being printed upon, and means for antomatically operating said parts.

4. in a bml-and-platen printing-press, the

combination of means l'or presenting the sheets to be printed upon the platen. means For smoothing the sheets upon the platen; clamping-lingers [or holding the. sheets in place while being printed upon, sheet delivering mechanism, and means for automatically operatin said parts.

5. In a be -and-platen printing-press, the combination of sheet registering devices, grippers for presenting the sheets in position to be printed upon. the platen, means for smoothing the sheets upon the platen, in'g-finger's for holding the sheets in place while being printed, delivery-grippers for delivering the printed sheets printed side up, and means for automatically actuating said parts.

6. An automatic sheet-registering mechanism for printing-presses comprising a removable and adjustable registering-table, means engaging the rear edges of successive sheets to move the sheets forward over the registering-table, registering-stops for the front edge of the sheets, and means for automatically moving the stops out of the way to permit the sheets to be carried forward for printing.

7. An automatic registering mechanism for printing-presses comprising a removable and adjustable registering-table, guides for preventing the sheet from lifting or moving sidewise on the registerin -table, means engaging the rear edges of the sheets for mov- 3o ing the sheets on the registering-table, stops 40 at its rear upon for engaging the front edges of the sheets, and means for automatically moving said stops out of the way to permit the sheets to be car ried forward for. printing.

8. In a printing-press, the combination of a registering table, means for presenting sheets thereon, and rippers for taking successive-sheets from t e registering-table, the registering-table being adjustably sup orted adjusting-screws, ,an being removable so that it may be taken out of the way to permit access to the press. l

9. In a printing-press, the combination of a registering-table, means for removably supporting the registering-table near its front edge, adjustab e supporting sorews for the rear'edge of the registering-table, whereby the registering-table may be moved out of the way to allow acces's' to the press,. means for registering sheets upon the registeringtable, and grippers for taking sheets from the registering-table.

10. In abed-and-platen printing-press, the combination of the platen, .the type-bed cooperating therewith, a registering-table supported by brackets at one end and adjustmg means at the other and being bodily removable, saidplaten being movable in the frame-work of the press so that it may be moved from normal position to permit access thereto.

11. In a bed-and-platen printing-press, the combination of the platen, the type-bed cooperating therewith, a registermg-tabi adclampremovable, registering mechanism mounted movable with it, said platen being movable in the framework of.-the press so that it may be moved from normal-position to permit apcess thereto.

12. In a-bed-and-platen printing-press, the combination oiv a registering-table, a platen, and the type-bed cooperating therewith, the registering-table being bodily removable and the platen being movably mounted in the framework of the press, so that they can be moved from normal position when access is desired to the face of the platen.

13-. In a bed-and-platen printing-press, the combination of aplaten pivotally mounted in the framework .of the press, a type-bed cooperating therewith, a registering table mounted upon the framework above the platen bodily removable, said parts being arranged -so that the registering-table can be removed and the platen turned up when access is desired to the face of the platen- 14. In a bed-and-platen printing-press, the combination of the platen and an automatic feeding mechanism with a smoothing mechanism to smooth the sheets upon the platen and a gripping mechanism to hold the sheets to the platen while being printed.

1.5-. In a bed-and-platen printing-press, the combination of the platen and an automatic feeding mechanism with a smoothing mechanism to smooth the sheets upon the platen and a grippingmechanism to hold the sheets to the platen and means for operating them.

16. In a bedandplaten printing-press, the combination of a registering-table, 'grip ers carrying sheets from the registering-ta le, into position to be printed upon the platen,

resser-fingers for holdingthe sheets in place while being printed, and means for operatm the resser-fingers so that some of sai resser-fingers are kept parallel with the ace of the laten while being moved toward or awayt erefrom, ,and one of the other presser-fingers has a pivoted or swinging motion.

17. Ina bed-and-platen printing-press, the combination of a pivoted platen, a registerregistering-ta e into position to be printed on the platen, a smoothing mechanism for smoothing the sheets 11 on the platen, a curved track or way, an means for operating the same to open the grippers.

18. In a bed-and-platen printing-press, the combination of a pivoted platen, a registering-table, grippers carrying sheets from the registering-ta e into position te-be printed upon the platen, a curved track or way ing-table, grippers carrying sheetsfrom themounted at the side of the platen and carried" 19. In a bed-and: laten printing-press,,the

r-ornbinationof means for automatically presenting the sheets in position to be printed upon on the platen, means for smoothing the sheets on the platen, and a sheet-delivery mechanism comprising swinging grippers for taking the sheets from 111 front of the lower edge of the platen and delivering the sheets printed. side up.

20. In a printing-press, the combination of the platen, a swinging frame carryin the type-bed cooperating with the platen, sdieetrcgistering stops, grippers for carrying sne- ('L'SSlVC sheets into 'osition to be printed upon the platen, ant connections from the suinging frame for moving the registering-- l ps out of the Way and for actuating the grippers.

21. in a printing-press, the combinatiomof sheetregistering mechanism, means for pre s ting the successive sheets in position to be printed, a swinging delivery for the printed heets, and connections from the swinging drlivery for operating the sheet-registering mechanism.

22. In a bed-and-platen printing-press, the combination of the platen, a swinging frame carrying a type-bed cooperating with the platen, a main crank-shaft connected to 'opjerate the swinging frame, registeringblocks [or the sheets, grippers for presenting the sheets in position to be printed upon the platen, a main crank-shaft connected to o crate the swinging frame, a registeringtah e, rcgisiering-stops, means tor moving the sheets over the registeringdahle to engage the registering-stops, grippers for carrying platen, connections from the swinging frame, 1

for IWJViIlg the registering-blocks out of the way and for turning the grippers and connections from the main crank-shaft for opening the grippers.

23. In a bed-and-platen p ini ing-press, the combination of a platen, n wringing frame carrying a ty e-be eooperat 1.1g therewith, a main crank-s aft 0 nnectcd to operate the swinging frame, ri-gistering-blocks ior he sl'--= ts, grippers tor resenting successwe sheets in position to we printed upon the platen, clamping-fingers for holding the sheets in place while being printed upon,

connections from the swinging frame for moving the registering-blocks out of the way and for operating the grippers, and connections from the main crank-shaft for opening the sheets from the registermgtnhle into position to be printed upon the platen, a swing ing delivery, connections from the swinging frame for moving the registering-stops out of the way and for operating the means to pre sent the sheets in position to he printe on the platen, connections operated from the main crank-shaft for opening the grippers and connections from the roek'shaft of the swinging delivery for operating the means for carrying the sheets to registered position upon the registering-table.

25. In a bedand-platen printing-press, the combination oi a laten, a swinging frame carrying a type-bed cooperating therewith, a crank-s1 \ft connected to operate the swinging frame, a registering-table, registeringstops, means for moving sheets upon the reg istering-tahle to engage the registering-stops,

gri pers for moving the sheets into position.

to )e printed upon the platen, clamping-lingers for holding sheets in place while being printed, a swinging delivery, connections from the swinging frame for moving the registering-stops out of the way and for operating the grippers, connections i'rointhc crankshaft for opening the grippers and for operat ing the clamping-fin ers, and connections from the rock-shaft ot the swinging delivery for operating the means for moving the sheets upon the delivery-table.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two sulmcrihing Witnesses,

LEWIS E. MORltlSON Witnesses:

J. T. Kiivnnaoon, V WiLLiAM A. 1*. ALT. 

